Ushering in new leadership at Petoskey High School

They're ready to inspire, energize and instill in staff, students, parents and the community even more pride in Petoskey High School.

On the first day of school this fall, new principal Jim Kanine and assistant principal Julie Bergmann, are ready to ask students a question that they feel will usher in a new phase at the school, while also honoring the past.

What does it mean to be a true-blue Northman?

"When you ask the question, you define it," Bergmann said.

"Being true-blue means everything," Kanine said. "If you have pride in your school and pride in your community, you can really do something with that."

Bergmann said she and Kanine's vision for the school is quite similar to the district's - "going from good to great."

Bergmann said their efforts to bring the school together will be a collaborative process.

"(Our vision) will develop over time and is going to be fine-tuned by staff, the students and family - we're just working together to define what it means to be great," she said. "There's a history of greatness in Petoskey. 'True-blue' is new, but it's not new; we've been trying to build this culture all along - we're just going to take it one step further to greatness."

Kanine said they will also honor past successes within the school.

"We're not going to throw away anything that's working, but we're going to put our stamp on it," he said.

Kanine and Bergmann are both former classroom teachers - Kanine for 23 years and Bergmann for nine (seven years as a science teacher for Petoskey High School). They said they believe this background will help them in their new leadership positions.

"I think to me, the best administration I've had, have been classroom teachers," Bergmann said. "I certainly think that helps, just knowing what happens on the front lines - who better to support teachers and students than someone who's been in that role?"

"When you've done the job of being a classroom teacher long enough, I think you have an appreciation and understanding of what's most important," Kanine said.

Although they have a tremendous amount of work ahead of them, both Kanine and Bergmann said they are excited for the 2009-10 school year to begin.

"I'm excited. My overall goal is for staff and students to be excited to come into school and for them not to want to leave at the end of the day," Bergmann said.

"I want us to do really well here," Kanine added. "I'm just in an adrenaline rush right now, making sure we have everything ready when the students and staff get here."